In Memoriam

Magda Gerber died in her home surrounded by her children on April 27, 2007. She is survived by her three children: Erika Nagy, Daisy Gerber, Bence Gerber, son in law: Gabor Nagy, grandchildren: Tony Nagy, Jason Gerber and great grandchildren: Bailey Nagy, Kylie Nagy, Austin Spiller.

A world-renowned child therapist and infant specialist, Magda Gerber developed a revolutionary philosophy of infant care based on treating infants with respect and trust in their abilities to develop naturally at their own pace.

Born in Hungary and educated at the Sorbonne in Paris, Magda came to the United States with her husband and three children in 1957, after fleeing her native Budapest in the aftermath of the Hungarian Revolution.

She became fascinated with infant care, first as a young mother, and later through the teachings of her children's pediatrician, friend, and mentor, Dr. Emmi Pikler.

After years of observing and interacting with infants, Magda gained a unique understanding of how parents, caregivers, and professionals could nurture the development of genuine, authentic babies by encouraging their spontaneity and drive to learn and discover on their own. Many of her ideas were simple common sense ones, such as the importance of giving full attention and engaging the infant during everyday caregiving activities like feeding, bathing and diapering. Yet these ideas were unconventional when she began to introduce them in the United States in the early 1970's. Today, Magda’s methods have become accepted and commonly practiced by professionals, caregivers and parents, and have influenced the guidelines set forth by the National Association for Young Children (NAEYC), the credentialing agency that promotes high standards for quality group care for infants and toddlers.

In 1973, Magda Gerber co-founded, with Thomas Forrest, Pediatrician and Clinical Professor, the non-profit organization Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE) in Los Angeles, California. RIE was one of the first places in the United States to offer a specialized environment for infant observation and parent education. In addition to being RIE's director, Magda taught infant classes, parents, and professionals on a full-time basis.

Magda also taught at Pacific Oaks College from 1978 to 1998, and was an original member of the WestEd Advisory Board and faculty. She influenced the field of infant child care by consulting with infant programs and advocating for better treatment of babies and toddlers. Fluent in four languages, she lectured world-wide at conferences, colleges, and infant centers in the United States, and in numerous other countries such as Canada, Korea, Singapore, Mexico and Israel. At professional conferences, Magda enthralled crowds with her charismatic presentations.

Magda’s deep understanding of infants, combined with her wit, exceptional presentation skills, and uncompromising principles gained support and praise from a number of experts in the field including Dr. Benjamin Spock, Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, Dr. Ron Lally, Dr. Peter Mangione, Janet Gonzalez-Mena, and Laura Huxley.

The basic ideas of Magda's philosophy have been published in numerous articles, journals, and books, and captured in videos. Her wisdom and insights, delivered in her warm, captivating style, live on in these films.

Magda Gerber's lasting legacy is the students, parents and caregivers who have learned from her and who incorporate her philosophies into their daily routines and interactions with children, and the babies who benefit from their care.